Tuesday, September 25, 2012

I Say You SayAnimals Sounds: Click Here to OrderISBN: 978-0316200738Opposites: Click Here to OrderISBN: 978-0316200752Today I get to review a fun new series for kids. The I Say, You Say series is written for toddlers and preschoolers. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old and both of them love this series. They have been in our car and usually I can catch the 5 year old "reading" it to the 3 year old while we are waiting for Hailey (age 7) to get out of school.What I really like about this series is the large 2 page spread with a portion of each page that either lifts up or out. I'm not talking just flaps - but flaps that are actually part of the page. They won't tear off easily and since the paper is a heavier paper (although not a board book page) the pages are sturdy enough for older toddlers. I Say You Say Animal Sounds encourages kids to read through repetition, they learn the sounds each animal makes and their names also. I Say You Say Opposites teaches visually sizes, the meaning of opposites and children learn to "predict" what is going to happen next.This would be a great series to give for birthday gifts, christmas stockings, to keep in the diaper bag - shoot do like I do and keep it in the car. Just train your kids to use their indoor voice. =b

Check out the video:

About the author:

TadCarpenter is an illustrator and designer living in Kansas City, Missouri, and an adjunct professor in graphic design and illustration at the University of Kansas. You can visit him at www.tadcarpenter.com.

I have 3 SETS to give away - and I know this one is going to go fast. Everyone's going to want a set for themselves! If you don't want to wait to see if you won..... you can order a set on Amazon here - at $6.99 each you can easily afford to give these as Christmas or Hannakkah gifts this year!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Welcome to Classic Children's Books where we are dedicated to encouraging parents & children to read together "out load" through the 8th grade if possible. No Way? Then come here to find the BEST books to put in your home for your preteen & teen's personal library. =D

I am an Usborne Books consultant and my fall is already shaping up to be VERY busy. I have booths scheduled for the next 4 weeks - if you are starting to do your Holiday Shopping why not consider starting a new tradition & give BOOKS to the kids in your life? To start, you can help Stomp Out Cancer with Bloggings Stomp Out Cancer Bookfair! A portion of your order will be donated to a very worthy cause.

We have books for kids 0-100. There are "That's Not My....", Lift The Flap, Award Winning Series, Children's Encyclopedia's; Math, Sticker & Art Books ~ and more! Set up a Wish List and send that list to Grandma, aunts, uncles - anyone who shops for Kid's Birthday & Christmas presents!

Thanks for stopping by! Classic Children's Books is PR friendly and we LOVE to read, review & giveaway your books. If you'd like more information about hosting a bookfair, having a show or just order Usborne Books for your family ~ just drop me a line and I'll get right back to you.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Here is a FUN game that reinforces the skill of recognizing sight words. Based on the old game "Pick Up Sticks" this game has a twist. Kids still try to pick up sticks without moving any others - the twist is that it also helps kids work on their sight words at the same time.

Each stick is made of bamboo and each has a work printed on one end. As the kid picks up a stick they need to read the word on the stick. If they get it correct they can pick up to 5 sticks up before their turn ends. Simple right?

I'm watching 2 girls this year. Hailey (age 7) and Sierra (age 3) and both girls love it. Granted Sierra can't read yet but she recognizes that there is a word on the stick and holds it up for us to read to her. She is the kid that drags out this game more than the other 2 kids I watch do.

What I'd like to see with this game is a series for different grades. Maybe upgrade it to have more sticks and a larger set. Especially for older kids. I could easily see a set for each grade. I'd also love to see a set with letters and shapes for younger kids (age 3-6). You can do the colors with the old version "Pick Up Sticks" that you can pick up anywhere but it would be great to have other versions of this game.

Be sure to check out these games that also promote cooperation, reading readiness, counting and sequencing and more here and here. Pick Up Words is available Online for $14.50.WIN It:Montessori Services.com is offering one of our readers a set of Pick Up Words - enter here. Please make sure you follow all the instructions for the entries you claim - I check each winner drawn and if it's not there all of your entries will be deleted. I've had several people claiming them and not following through & that's not fair to those that do it right.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

I won a Kindle Touch this summer and with my new daycare I have been trying to find FREE High Quality eBooks and Games to use with the preschoolers in my care. In particular I'd like them to be able to use it in the car while we drive to activities, wait at the school to pick up older kids, etc. I've been doing a little research and thought I'd share my results with you:Note: Each portable media player has a different process for moving audio & video files from your computer onto the device. For specific instructions on how to load & play video & music, visit the support Web site for your specific device.Between the LionsPBSKids.org - There are stories available for kids to listen to on your internet-able electronic things. If your computer is MP3 friendly be sure to download these Music Mixes. There are 4 of them - just right click on the "Download" button and choose "Save Link As".

Programs you can download as MP3's and play on your mobile/eReader device: Click Here

Jack & the Beanstalk -

14 short video episodes, in a new adaptation for 5 to 7 year olds.

Each video is accompanied by a transcript. The story also features in our Music pages where it is presented with seven songs, with downloads of the music and audio.

Rhyme Rockets:I haven't heard of this show but it's listed in the Parents/Teacher's section of BBC (click here). This show was for kids 4-6 and the available booklet that you download & print contains lots of classic rhymes and also several new ones. Show siteBibliotasticThis site has several hundred FREE audios for Preschoolers to early elementary. Click here I believe there is to be a way to download to a mobile device, I just haven't figured it out. There are several stories I'm interested in for Sierra.

Be sure to also check Sylvan Dell Publishing - each month they have a FREE book to listen to online in Spanish & English. These books all have a fiction type story that teaches math, science, social sciences, green, etc within the story itself. These are wonderful books! This months book is: The Most Dangerous:

Here is a great list where I found most of the above sites: Click HereHave you found any great sites for non-app type devices? I have a Kindle Touch and would love to have interactive books, audios, games, etc - they just need to be FREE or less than $4 each. I'd love to know what you've been able to find!

About the book:“Not my iPod!” Jeremy Lapoint’s day plunges to record lows when Sid Lundahl and his crew stomp the only nice thing he owns-and Jeremy gets in trouble for fighting. With Dad in prison and Mom struggling to scrape by, Jeremy’s life seems hopeless.

Until he has this urge to … fly.

One leap and Jeremy soars through the air. With this and his other new-found powers, life is suddenly amazing, wonderful. Until a real-live demon chases him through the school hallways, terrifying him and making him a freak to his schoolmates. He’s the only one who can see the monster. Jeremy wonders if the flying thing’s worth it.

But during the chase, Asiel, Jeremy’s guardian angel, wields his sword and battles off the demon. Later Asiel explains that Jeremy’s a Nephilim: half human and halfangel. Jeremy’s shocked. His quest to uncover how he got like this sends him to the Higher Humanity Institute where he meets other Nephilim like him along with a slew of enemies-both human and … not.

In the midst of his strange and dangerous struggles, Jeremy also receives the peace and love he’s always longed for but never knew. When called to lead anangelic battle for the truth, will Jeremy cling to the One who can win the war or let his old doubts and fears overtake him?

Fun, danger, friendship, mystery, and faith-along with awesome angels and demons-fill the pages of this exciting book. A must-read for kids (and grownups) craving adventure with a life-changing message.

My thoughts:Children of Angels is a book with a unique idea based on a very short passage of the Bible that talks about how at one time the angels took human wives and created children who were 1/2 angels. The book eludes to these children having special abilities and their purpose is to fight demons through Spiritual Warfare. What I personally found interesting is that the Bible never says that - in fact, God clearly states at one point that his spirit will not dwell on the earth forever and that it will end in 120 years (Gen 6:3). There is also speculation that the angels were fallen angels and the children born of these relationships possibly were demons and giants (here).So, that being said, I loved the book once I got into it. I loved the idea of children with special powers who are able to fight demons and make a difference in the world. I love how the hero (Jeremy) of our book is mentored by a grown up angel (Asiel) who teaches him how to control his powers (strength, speed, etc). I also loved how the Armour of God lesson is taught (although not mentioned as such) and how the kids learn to overcome their fear and trust God and their mentor's teaching (it turns out there are children with powers from around the world and their powers manifest in various ways).

I would suggest this book for kids 13+ and personally I think I would read it first if I had a child 10+ who wanted to read it. You as the parent need to know what you believe and be prepared for questions your kids (of any age) may have. If you have let your children read books like Hunger Games, any of the Vampire type books, etc they (and you) shouldn't have any problems this is definitely tame compared to those. Other than that - it's a wonderful book!About the author:When Kathryn Dahlstrom’s husband was transferred to Los Angeles, she traded Minnesota’s black-bear country for the inner-city and taught children at a Child Evangelism Fellowship Good News Club in Watts. She also began her writing career. In addition to writing six titles in the Good News Club children’s fiction series published by Child Evangelism Fellowship Press, the author is also a screenwriter and film producer.

Currently, she and her husband, Tim, live on wooded acreage north of Minneapolis/St. Paul where they care for her mother. They also have an adult daughter, Kristina. Find out more about Kathryn at http://www.kathryndahlstrom.com.Check out these other reviews for the Children of Angels blog tour.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Hi everyone -I have a new little guy starting daycare tomorrow. He will be going to preschool in the mornings and now I'm trying to come up with some fun ideas of activities to do with him. We may or may not have Sierra (age 3) with us - depends how much she needs a nap that day. I'm thinking a rest period in the afternoon and then maybe some outdoor playtime doing nature stuff. I was cruising the internet looking for some fun activities and came across a fun website called:

NatureRocks.org is a neat site with all kinds of activities. Just plug in your child's age and how much time you have (to keep 'em busy) and watch all kinds of activities pop up. I could of used this this summer! Check out the activities for kids 4-6 years old, 30 minutes to 1 hour and in the community:Explore: 1. What do you hear?2. What scent is this?3. Where do Animals Live?4. Count the Animals One by One5. Climb a treePlaytime:1. Nature Scavenger Hunt2. Games of Yore3. Act Like an Animal on Parade4. Sneaky Secret Agent, Mission: Bug Discovery5. Tree, Meet My Child

Find Nature in your community:Scroll to the bottom at NatureRocks.org and enter your zipcode and a map comes up with arrows & blue dots. Click on those and sites with Child Friendly Nature FUN comes up. Click here to check out the FUN in Omaha!

Here's a Giveaway you don't want to miss:I also found a giveaway if anyone is interested. It's sponsored by MikobiScribe and is for a Eco-Friendly Monthly Kid's Craft Project Kit. Each month you'll get at least 3 FUN crafts with the supplies needed (you provide scissors, glue - the basics) and you'll also get a booklet with more nature activities that include math, science and literacy activities. Cool, huh?

Saturday, September 1, 2012

War of the Seasons, Book Two: The Half-Blood
by Janine K Spendlove
ISBN: 978-0983656746
$17.99 (paperback)
$7.99 (kindle)

About the book:
Six months after arriving in the world of Ailionora, Story finds herself once again on a quest; only this time it is not to save a dying race but the life of the elf she loves. Along the way, she must face the consequences of her previous choices and battle with enemies both old and new while she races against time.

This is the sequel to: War of the Seasons, Book One - The Human. You can read my review here.

My Thoughts:
I seem to be doing quite a few "series" type reviews this year. Which is great because these were ones that I got hooked on the first book and it's always fun to revisit the characters and worlds involved.

I seriously hesitated to add this review to Classic Children's Books and instead featuring it on GivingNSharing. Why? While the main character is now 18 (she was 17 in the original book) she is now no longer a "teen" in the way we are used to. The book involves Magic (both dark and white (is there such a thing?) and Story is very involved with a lover - although they aren't doing much more than heavy petting. She is now engaged, dealing with his possible death and basically she is having to make decisions about tricking the Sun Prince (Morrigann) and delivering him up to his sister for "punishment, death or worse".

Please note: This is NOT a Middle-Grade book - it's a better fit for Teens 16+ to adult.

I had more difficulty getting involved with this book. As you'll recall I managed to read the first book in a day (it's 380 some pages) and I got involved fast in the story and the events of the book. Book Two is a little different - I found it harder to get involved with the book until about 1/3 way through. It opens dealing with her relationship with Eirnin and their engagement, big changes in the Elf Kingdom, her learning how to sleepwalk and getting used to powers that she received in Book One. About 1/3 of the way in the book the action starts happening and Story has to make some tough decisions involving leaving Eirnin who is unconscious and unable to stop her, disobeying the Elf Queen and not really knowing who she can trust and choosing to free the Sun Prince - Morrigann. The decisions she makes at the beginning of her journey may mean her and her new friends (and some not so close friends) death. The action is fast moving, the writing very well written and you aren't left wondering what happened and reading it over and over to stay connected.

Just a note: I read this on my Kindle whereas I read the first book as a paperback. That could of been partly why I struggled with this book. I had a hard time connecting until quite a ways into the book. Please check out the first book War of the Seasons, Book One - The Human. I loved it & if you like a good fantasy story with lots of action you will like this one. From there decide if you want to go on to Book Two. Hmmm?

About the author:
Janine K. Spendlove is a KC-130 pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Her bestselling first novel, War of the Seasons, Book One: The Human, was published in June 2011 and her next novel, War of the Seasons, Book Two: The Half-blood, was released in June 2012. She’s also had several short stories published in various anthologies. A graduate from Brigham Young University in 1999 with a BA in History Teaching, she is an avid runner, enjoys knitting, playing Beatles tunes on her guitar, and spending time with her family. She resides with her husband and daughter in Washington, DC. She is currently at work on her next novel.

You can purchase both books on Amazon - either paperback (I strongly recommend) or Kindle.

I was given a copy of War of the Seasons, Book Two - The Half-Bloodby Janine Spendlove to read & review on Classic Children's Books. I was not required to write a positive review and no money exchanged hands. This is my honest opinion. Thanks Janine!